Arlie C. Christian

Arlie C. Christian, 89, Ephrata, passed away at Columbia Basin Hospital on Thursday. He was born with a twin sister in Surgoinsville, Tenn. Nov. 12, 1915. His parents left Tennessee and moved west to Ellensburg when he was six months old. His father was a farmer. Arlie attended school in Ellensburg and graduated high school in 1934.

Arlie married Grayce Calkins in 1938 and lived in Ellensburg for a short time and later moved to California where he worked in an auto body shop. When he moved back to Washington, he lived in Seattle, where he worked for Boeing Co. before being transferred to Ephrata. He had a soft fruit orchard and later raised hay. He had farm stock and horses until his retirement, always being a farmer at heart and raising a huge garden that would keep his family and others in fresh produce. He worked for Grant County Road District and was manager of the Washington State Liquor Store in Ephrata, where he retired.

Arlie was a 60-plus member of the Odd Fellow Lodge in Ephrata. He was a member of the Rock Hound Club and always worked at the Grant Count Fair and Grant County Museum during the Sage and Sun Festival. He was a Charter member of the District 13 Firefighters for many years. He loved golf and belonged to the Lakeview Country Club for many years. In his later years, he and his golf partner, Walker, played on the small golf course at Oasis Park in Ephrata. He was also active, before retirement, in the Sheriff's Posse. Arlie and his wife were active as volunteers at the Senior Center in Ephrata as well as the Senior Center Thrift Store. He put many miles on his pickup picking up and delivering for the Senior Center and Thrift Store.

After retirement, he and his wife, Grayce, enjoyed traveling with their trailer and rock hunting. Arlie made lovely jewelry out of the rocks they hunted, setting them in silver. They also traveled to Mexico and to many places in the United States with their Airstream trailer, making many trips east to Tennessee to visit with family.

He is survived by his wife Grayce; daughter Arla Mae Deycous and son-in-law Don; granddaughter Sandy Ledgerwood and husband Scott of Shoreline; three great-grandchildren: Ryan, Bethan and Ian of Shoreline; three brothers: Mel Christian of Yakima, Dave Christian of Ellensburg and Ed Christian of Ellensburg.

His parents Gale and Phoebe Christian; grandson Ed Deycous; sister Edna Blades and his twin sister, Elizabeth, preceded him.

There will be no service.